Rings

I didn’t cut up the old one, I have a few of these inexpensive blue lapis cabs! I haven’t submitted instructions for any article proposals for a while, and thought I’d give it a try with this ring. Practices have changed in the last couple of years; instructions need to be completed for the proposal itself. So, I needed to make another ring with standard beads to have correct bead counts. My first blue ring used blue French 13s, and I wanted to convert it to Delicas (the dichroic ring uses Delicas, but the cab itself isn’t a standard, even shape and size).

So, I browsed through my Delicas and 15s to find beads that would work with the cab. I had to raid a mix for the 15s, but I like my final choices. I’ve written the instructions, now I need to create a few sample diagrams to help the editors understand my words, and see if they’re interested in publishing this.

I received three dichroic cabs as a gift when I hosted a swap many years ago. They are about 12mm square, and a full 6mm thick at the center. I gave a shot at making a ring like my blue ring, and this is the result:

I made it exactly the same as the blue one, but this one is a little less successful, primarily because of the thickness of the cab. I still used 2 rows of delicas as the outside border of the cab, then cinched it in with the smaller beads to capture the cab securely. I probably should have used 3 rows on the outside, as the cab can pop out of the back of the setting. This isn’t a problem when it’s on my finger, but is less secure than it should be.

Also because of the thickness, the setting isn’t as graceful looking when worn; the band is raised off my finger more than I’d like where it’s attached to the cab. I could have anchored the band on the lower row of delicas, that might have helped.

I could remake it — I might someday as the green delicas and the fuschia 15s are dyed, poor choice for jewelry that can get as much wear as a ring. I only had dyed beads on hand that looked good with the cab.

Still, all that aside, I love the ring. I will wear it and enjoy it.